Jon Ronson is a journalist and writer, principally known as the author of books which explore weird beliefs and their social consequences.

These include:

“The Men Who Stare at Goats”, which explores the curious cold war programme designed to create ‘psychic spies’ for the US military (Another book “Remote Viewers” by Jim Schnabel describes the involvement of practising Scientologists in this doomed effort).

“Adventures With Extremists” which examines the extreme beliefs of characters such as David Icke (TV sports pundit turned extraterrestrial conspiracy theorist, Ian Paisley and others.

The self-explanatory, “Out of the Ordinary: True Tales of Everyday Craziness” and “What I Do: More True Tales of Everyday Craziness”.

Between 1997 and 2000 he hosted a curious late night talk show on Channel 4 (at that time, the UK’s second commercial TV channel, after ITV). In it he talks to, and draws out, groups of ordinary people who have extraordinary hobbies and beliefs.

The very first programme brought together a group of UK Scientologists. We have become used to the modern Church of Scientology’s hostile and controlling attitude towards media interviews. In contrast, these people are unsupervised and relaxed. They genuinely appear to be speaking their minds . As a consequence, they come over far more sympathetically.

Some activists may criticise Ronson for not asking hard questions about the abuses of Scientology. Fair enough. However, I feel there is a place for this type of programme. It is the nearest that people like me (who have never been members of the Church) will get to observing how Scientologists interact with each other, and the operation of social influence, which normalises the most bizarre beliefs (as long as they keep them within the group).

Granted, on this occasion they are on their very best behaviour and anxious to make a good impression – but this is better than nothing.

You can view the 51 minute programme in a video window after the break.

Ronson also gathered together believers in the extraordinary English cult, the Aetherius Society, Hare Krishna, Tibetan Buddhism, the controversial Jesus Army, Kabbalah, the Mormons, and many others which are equally fascinating.

For those of you with similar tastes, here’s a link to a lovingly-compiled YouTube playlist which covers the entire series

Georgina Roberts is a 2nd generation scientologist, attended Greenfields school in East Grinstead, while her mother worked as a teacher there. Greenfields is the UK’s prime recruiting ground for the Sea Org. “Georgina Roberts 26, an actress”, was encountered on staff at Saint Hill Manor (UK Scientology’s HQ) by a reporter for the “Independent” newspaper, who took a personality test there for a story “Signing up for Scientology“.

This is fascinating; Thank you! Ronson does a really great job here, asking questions but mainly just letting them talk. They’re so comfortable with him. I’ve never seen anything like this. Most of the other things I’ve seen have been either stilted promo videos or Scientologists in confrontations of some sort.

And of course we get someone raised from the dead via a touch assist and a Buddhism comparison. And the show wouldn’t be complete without this oft trotted out gem: “Mr. Hubbard was the first person ever to properly define the nature of humanity and to recognize the spiritual nature of man.” It’s not even wrong.

Given the age of the older folks, I imagine they’ve died by now. But the younger ones, I wonder if they’ve blown. I hope so.

I suspect that this is a period piece, and the kind of openness shown here on the part of Scientologists has not been possible for some time.

I suppose it shows why Scientology’s recruitment procedure has always emphasised social pressure, and has worked to persuade people to participate sight unseen. If they allow members to speak openly, they sound very strange – but if they try to repress open speech they come over as controlling and scary.

Louis Theroux has been ‘advertising’ on Twitter for Scientologist to participate in an apparently similar “[…] non-judgemental inquiry into Scientology beliefs and practices, from inside the Church”. He will likely have to content himself with ex and independent Scientologists, because no present Church member would dare to do what Ronson’s guests did.

The younger participants are likely blown – Scientology has always had a tremendous turnover of membership. One of the reasons for their present (probably terminal) difficulties is that their rate of recruitment no longer matches the rate of defection.

Finally , I would love to hear from anyone who recognises any of the participants (or who actually took part).

Sorry for the late reply. For some reason, your reply didn’t show up in my wordpress notifications.

Anyhow, yeah, the difficulties in recruitment are terminal. Even if Miscavige were somehow outsted, the cherch’s terrible PR cannot be undone. it would take a generation or more of clean living and who knows what else just to make it seem remotely palatable to people. I don’t see that happening.